Awakenings from Then ’til Now allows you to Embrace Your Past, Empower the Present, Enrich Your Future.

Welcome to Awakenings

Life IS history in the making. Every word we say, everything we do becomes history the moment it is said or done. Life void of memories leaves nothing but emptiness. For those who might consider history boring, think again: It is who we are, what we do and why we are here. We are certainly individuals in our thoughts and deeds but we all germinated from seeds planted long, long ago.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

South Dakota: Hooved Thunder

North Dakota and South Dakota are known as "twin states" because they
were admitted to the Union on the same day, November 2, 1889. No one
knows which state was admitted first because President Benjamin Harrison
purposely shuffled and then blindly signed the papers. Alphabetically,
North Dakota is recognized as the 39th state and South Dakota the 40th State.
However, the states aren't identical twins. They have similar shapes,
sizes, and climates, but differ in many other ways.

"We
need the tonic of wildness -- to wade sometimes in marshes where the
bittern and the meadow-hen lurk. We need to witness our own limits
transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.~Henry David Thoreau

Welcome to the gentle and thundering South Dakota!

What does the name South Dakota mean?

"Dakota" is the Sioux Indian word for friend. President James Buchanan signed the bill creating the Dakota Territory in 1861.

Before acquiring the
nickname, The Mount Rushmore State, South Dakota took pride in sunshine becoming known as America's Sunshine State, even to the point of including it on the state flag.
Prior to this nickname, South Dakota was referred to as the Coyote
State. Sunshine brings on smiles but is really not the best descriptor
for such a 'cold' state (weatherwise, that is) and coyotes are wild
beasts, which is not the best of images to attract visitors. Then, only a few years ago, a movement was made to change the state's nickname to The Monument State. This effort failed leaving South Dakota with reference to Mount Rushmore.

Aerial America: South Dakota

In addition to all the information you are about to learn about South Dakota...

South Dakota is the home of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota tribes, which make up the Sioux Nation.
Custer State Park is home to a herd of 1,500 free-roaming bison. Bison
can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Historically, the bison played an
essential role in the lives of the Lakota (Sioux), who relied on the
"tatanka" for food, clothing and shelter.
The
Dakota Territory originally included the area covered today by North
and South Dakota as well as Montana and Wyoming. This year (2014) both states are celebrating their 125th anniversary since on
November 2, 1889,
North and South Dakota were admitted to the Union. South Dakota
became the 40th state and is officially known as The Mount Rushmore State. The Capital of South Dakota is Pierre.

South Dakota designated the Chinese ring-necked pheasant as state bird in 1943. Its voice is a loud crowing caw-cawk! followed by a resonant beating of the wings. When alarmed flies off with a loud cackle.

The howl of the coyote is known as the song of the west (one of the few
wild animals whose vocalizations are commonly heard). The coyote has a
range of distinctive sounds it uses to communicate with pups and other
adults including barks, yips, howls, yelps and huffs. As with all
canines, they also use body language (ears, tail, facial expressions) to
get their point across.

South Dakota, a leader in honey production, designated the honeybee as
official state insect in 1978. The
honeybee is recognized as an official state symbol in seventeen states
(see State Insects), primarily because honeybees play such an important role in agriculture.

Kuchen was designated the official state dessert of South Dakota in
2000. Kuchen is the German word for "cake" and is used to describe a
variety of different types of sweet desserts and pastries. Kuchen
desserts are of German heritage, popular in many areas of German
settlement in the United States, particularly North Dakota, South
Dakota, Indiana, and Minnesota.

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About Me

Sharla is a graduate of Troy State University and an educator with a flair for writing in poetic verse. Her latest book, Awakenings from Then ’til Now is available from Tate Publishing. It is dedicated to those who laid the foundation and established the platform for our American freedom: those who have served in the past, presently serve, or will serve our military forces in the future. A profound appreciation is extended for the sacrifice of these brave men and women who left or will leave their homes and family to ensure America’s freedom endures.

A grave price is being paid every moment of every day of the year for all the freedom America has to offer. Let us not forget those who have fought or are fighting for our nation; they are the epitome of the human spirit called freedom!